Machine for fashioning annular sheet metal articles



. My 3, 1939. F. H. LE JEUNEET AL 2,159,900

MACHINE FOR FAS I{IONING ANNULAR SHEET MTAL ARTICLES Filed Aug. 3, 1956 3 Sheets-Shegt r m FRANK VH.LGJEUNE M J9HN E.GOPE AND av I A TORNE YS May 23, 1939. v F. H. LE JEUNE ET AL 2,159,900 MACHINE FOR FASfi-INING ANNULAR SHEET"METAL ARTICLES -Filed Aug. 5, 1936 3 Sheets-Sfieet 3 m FIG.5.

7NVENTRS FRANK H.LeJEUNE JOHN E. COPELAND I B A TORNY Patented May 23, 1939 V UNITED STATES MACHINE FOR FASHIONING ANNULAR SHEET METAL ARTICLES Frank H. Le Jeune and John E. Copeland, Detroit,

Mich.. assignors to Kelsey-Hayes Wlieei Company, Detroit, Mich.. a. corporation o! Dela- Application August 3, 1936, Serial No. 94.083 10 Ciaims. (Cl.153+25) The invention relates to machines for fashioning annular sheet inetai members being more particulariy designed for use as a step in the process of forming vehicle wheel rims. It is the obJect of the invention to obtain a construction adapted to flare and progressiveiy thin the opposite end portions of a cylindricai hoop, leaving the central portion thereof substantiaily of the original diameter and thickness of metal. To

this end, the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a Side elevation of the machine;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section therethrough;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the parts in different position;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2showing a slightly modified construction;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the construction of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a 'sectionai plan view of the construction shown in Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line 1-! of Figure 1.

The usua1 method of forming wheel rims is to first form a hoop of a sheet metai strip having its ends welded to each other. This hoop is then refashioned usuaily by a rolling process, but in 0 some instances by die pressing. Where the diameter of the hoop is increased there will be a drawing and thinning of the metal, while a decrease in diameter of the hoop tends to upset and increase the thickness of the metal. However, the change in thickness is not dependent solely upon these factors, but is also afiected by the manner in which the pressure is applied. The machine forming the subject matter of the present invention is designed to operate upon a hoop which is of an original diameter corresponding to the base or inner periphery of the rim and to fiare the opposite end portions of said hoop as the first step in refashioning to the desired cross-sectionai contour. It has been found that a hoop so flared will uniformly taper in thickmess from the central portion to the opposite ends and wiil permit of further fashioning without materiaily aitering this taper.

Generally described, the machine comprises a pair of opposed pressing heads A and B which are relativeiy movable towards and from each other and are guided in this movement by posts C. As speciflcaily illustrated, the head A forms the base which may be mounted on any suitable 'foundation or may be placed upon the table of a power press. The head B is movable and may be actuated by the plunger of the press or any other suitable means (not shown). Secured to the heads- A and B in axial aiignment with each other are opposed annular die members D and D". Each of these has a cylindrical inner end portion N and an outwardly i aring portion D which portions are connected by an arcuate portion D tangent thereto. There is also a shoulder' D at the end of the fiaring portion. 10 Between the dies D and D is an expanding chuck E which is floatingiy mounted on the base A but is held in axial alignment with the dies. As shown, this chuck comprises a head F resiiiently supported upon springs G surrounding guide rods H which latter extend through bearings in the base and have heads H for iimiting upward movement. The lower portions of the springs G engage recesses G in the base and thus the head F will be normaily supported in 20 a predetermined position above the base. On this head F are a plurality of segmentai jaws 1. These are radially slidabiy secured to the head, preferably by T-s haped members ,J extending through slcts J and secured by bolts J The 25 upper ends of the jaws I are guided by a disk K having radial slcts K for the passage of securing bolts K The jaws I have inner faces of segmental conicai form which are engaged by a conicai wedge member L adapted when depressed 30 t0 simultaneously .ctuate all the jaws radiaily outward. The wedge member L is preterably operated by a fluid motor M, which as shown is mounted upon a depending hollow member 0 secured at its upper end to the head F. This 35 motor contains a piston P connected by a rod P with the wedge L, the construction being such that when the piston is moved dowhward the wedge will be depressed, forcing thesegmentai jaws I radiaily outward. On the other hand, 40

when fluid pressure in the motor is relieved, this will permit the upward movement of the wedge and the radial inward movement of the jaws. In expanded position the jaws I overiap the cylindricai portions D et the dies D and D, but 45 in retracted position they will clear these dies permitting them to move towards each other until their inner ends are in contact.

The operation of the fluid motor is controlled and properiy timed with the operation of the press by the following construction: Q and Q are cam members shown as angle bars, which are secured to a member Q on the movable head B.

R is a piston valve mounted on a bracket R. se-

cured to the stationary head A. S is a plunger 56 for operating the valve R. and B is a latch member piviotally mounted upon the plunger and carrying a roll S for traveling on the cams Q and Q. The latch member. as shown, is L-shaped and has a horizontal arm carrying the roll S and a depending arm adapted to abut the plunger and limit rotation of the latch member in a clockwise direction about its pivot. The latch member is normally held in this position by the coi] spring S but may swing in a. counter-clockwise direction. The cams Q and Q are secured to the member Q by bolts Q which pass through slots Q*, thereby permitting et vertical adJustment. The roller S overlaps the two members Q and Q" either one of which would form 3, track for said roll during the vertical movement of the head B. Thus, one ci the members Q and Q can be adjusted to control the upper. limit and the other the lower limit. In this manner, the timing of the operation of the valve may be varied bath as to opening and closing movement.

aWith the construction as described, the 6peration is as foliows: The hoop which is formed by the welding together 0l. the opposite ends of the sheet metal strip, is seldom o true circular form. However, the chuck E 15 ihitially in contracted position and will thus permit the operato r to sleeve the hoop thereover, as shown in Figure 1. The mechanism is then set in operationto depress the head B and shortly after its initial movement the lower end of the cam Q will engage the relier S which will actuate the valve B. to supply fluid pressure to the motor M. This will expand the chuck E changing the form of the hoop to that of a true circle and aligning it with the cylindrical portions D et the opposed annuiar dies. The further downward movement of the head B will enter the portion D of the upper die into the upper end of the hoop and will then carry both the hoop and the chuck E downward, this being permitted by the yielding of the springs G 50 as to sleeve the lower end of the hoop about the portion W of the lower die, as shown in Figure 2. When bath ends of the hoop are engaged with the portions D 01 the dies. the chuck will be collapsed by the disengagement of the roller s from the upper end of the cam Q, thereby permitting the valve R to relieve the fluid pressure in the motor. The jaws I may be moved radiaily inward by any suitahle means. However. to avoid any danger cf failure, the upper ends of the fjaws I have cam portions 1. These will be in t e path of the descendig upper die member D and will operate to move the Jaws I radialiy inward as the member D descends. time on. the hoop is supported solely by the die members D and D, but to avoid the flaring cf. either end more than the other, the shoulders D will form limit stops. Thus, the dies D and D can approach each other until their inner ends contact which will produce a hoop having its 01)- posite ehds fiared and its central portion 013 the original diaLmeter. The heads are then moved apart disengaging the expanded hoop from the dies, permitting of removal of the same from the collapsed chuck. By reason 01 the construction of the latch member S and its pivotal mounting upon the plunger s, the movement of the head B to move the die member D away from the die member D does not aflect the movement. of the valve R so that the motor romains relieved of fluid pressure. This is true because the iatch member may swing about its pivot against the resistance oflered by its retracting Spring 8 When From this the roller S comes into contact with the upper end 01 the cam Q.

In Figures 4 and 5, we have shown a slightly modified construction designed for performing the second operation of fashioning the rlm. In this construction the annular die members T and '1' are fashioned to further expand the fiaring portions ci the hoop as formed by the first operaticn and to form the side walls of the well or drop-center of the rim. Also, the chuck F instead of collapsing to clear the dies, is arranged permanently between the same and forma the limit for their inward movement. The timing of operation diiers irom that of the machine as first described, in that the chuck after being expanded to engage the central portion of the rim, remains in this position during the operation of the dies and thereby prevents any radially inward defiection of the portion of the rim in engagement therewith. In operation the flared hoop as formed by the first step is placed over the chuck F. while the latter is in collapsed position and is held in registraticn therewith by resting at its lower end on a supporting bearing U, this being mounted on the floatirz trame for the chuck and s0 positioned as to hold the hoop in symmetricai relation to the central plane of the chuck. During initial movement of the head, the chuck F is expanded to engage the central portion of the hoop aiter which the dies T and.T engage the flaring portions of the hoop at a point intermediate the ends of said portions. ment is by an arcuate portion T of the dies and as the dies move inward the point of bearing travels along the flared portions while it is refashioning the same. Thus there is no tendency to thin the metal for the friction of the die and its inward movement has on the contrary a slight upsetting efiect. The result is that the uniform taper in thickness produced in the flaring portion by the first operation stlll remains in the refashicned hoop formed by the second operation.

The rim, as. formed by the second operation,

This engagehas a base portion l which is substantially the original dlametcr of the hoop, outwardly extexiding walls 2 forming the sides 01 the well, and flaring portions 3. The latter are then further fashioned to form.the tire head seats and the retaining fianges, but as these operati0ns are preferably performed by rolling, they do not form any part oi the subject matter of the present application.-

, What we claim as our invention is:

1. A machine for formlng wheel rims comprising cpposed presser'heads, annular dies mounted on said heads in axial alignment with each other, a chuck axially fioatingly mounted between said dies,and adapted in collapsed position to receive a hoop, means for relatWeiy reciprocating said presser,heads, and means operated by the initial inward movement of'said heads for expandlng said chuck to. circularize said hoop and to hold the same in alignment with said dies whereby upon the further inward movement of said heads said dies will engage the opposite end portions oi said hoop and expand the same.

2. A machine for forming whel rims comprising opposed presser heads, annular dies mounted on said heads in axial alignment and having substantially cylindrical inner end portions and fiaring outer portions, a chuck axially floatingly mounted between said dies and adapted in collapsed position to receive a hoop and to clea.r said dies, means for relatively reciprocating said heads. means operated by the initial inward movement of said heads for expanding said cross section ing opposed presser heads,

' ins opposed presser movement of said heads for expanding said chuck to circularize said hoop and to permit entrance of the cylindrical portions of said-dies into the opposite ends thereof, and means operating upon the further inward movement of said heads for collapsing the chuck to clear said dies whereby during the continued inward movement the flaring portions of said dies W111 expand the end portions of said hoop while the cylindrical irmer end portions of the dies will hold the central portion of the hoop to substantially its original diameter.

3. A machine for forn1ing wheel rims comprising opposed presser heads, annular dies mounted on said heads in substantially cylindrical inner end portion and a substantially straight line outer flaring portion, said portions heing connected by an arcuate intermediate portion, a chuck axially floatingly mounted between said dies and adapted in collapsed position to receive a hoop and to clear said dies, means for relatively reciprocating said heads, means operated by the initial inward chuck to circularize said hoop and to permit entrance of the cylindrical portions of said dies into the opposite ends thereof, and means operating upon the further inward movement of saidheads for collapsing the chuck to clear said dies whereb the continued relatively inward movement of said heads Will cause the flaring portions of said dies to progressively expand in diameter and thin in the end portions of said hoop while the cylindrical inner end portions of said dies Will maintain the central portion of said hoop substantially its original diameter and thickness.

4. A machine for forming wheel rims comprising opposed presser heads, annular dies mounted on said heads in axial alignment with each other, a chuck axially flpatingly mounted between said dies in alignnient therewith and adapted in collapsed position to receive a hoop. a fiuid motor for expandirig said chuck, and timing means controlling said motor for expanding said chuck to circularize the hoop in advancement of the engagement of the dies therewith.

5. A machine.or forming wheel rims comprisannular dies mounted on said heads in axial alignment with each other, a chuck axially fioatingly mounted between said dies in alignment therewith and adapted in collapsed position to receive a hoop. a fluid motor carried by said chuck and adapted to expand the same, a valve for controlling said fluid motor,

' and timing means for actuating said valve whereby said chuck is expanded to circulariz said hoop in advancement of the engagement therewith of said dies.

6. A machine for forming wheel rims comprisheads. annular dies mounted on said heads in axial alignment with each other. a chuck between said dies position to receive a hoop, said chuck including a head axially floatingly mounted on one of said presser heads, j'aws radially movably mountedon said chuck head, a central wedge-shaped member movable axiallyto expandsaid jaws, motor mounted on said chuck head and operatively connected with said wedge-shaped member, a valve controllingsaid fluid motor, and means. for actuating said valve by the relative movement of said presser heads and timed t0 expand said chuck to vance et engagement et said dies therewith.

axial alignment, each having a adapted in collapsed w circularize said hoop in ad- '7. A machine for forming wheel rims comprising opposed presser heads, annular dies mounted drop-center portion of said rim,

on said heads in axial alignment with each other, a chuck axially floatingly mounted between said dies and adapted in collapsed position to receive a hoop, means on the floating mounting for said chuck adapted to hold the same in symmetrical relation to the central plane of the chuck, means for relatively reciprocating s'aid presser heads, and means operated by the initial inward movement of said heads for expanding said chuck to circularize said hoop and to hold the same in alignment with said dies whereby upon further inward movement of said heads said dies Wi1l engage the opposite end portions of said hoop and symmetricafly expand the same.

8. A machine for forming drop-center wheel rims comprising opposed presser heads, annular dies mounted onsaid heads in axial alignment with each other and fashioned to form the sides of the drop-center portion of the rim, a chuck axially floatingly mounted between said dies and adapted in collapsed position to receive a. hoop, the expanded diameter of said chuck and its axial length being that of the bottom of the means on the floating mounting for said chuck adapted tosupport in symmetrical relation thereto a. hoop having a central cylindrical portion and oppositely flaring end portions, means for relatively reciprocating said presser heads to bring said dies into contact with the ends of said chuck, and means said dies to engage for collapsing operated by the initial mviudmomt of said heads for expanding said chuck to engage the central portion o; said hoop and to hold the same concentric with said dies and against radial inward movementwhereby upon the further axially inward movement of said heads said annulardies will refashion said flaring portions to form the sides of the drop-center portion of the rim. v 9. A machine for forming wheel rims comprising opposed presser heads, annular dies mounted on said heads in axial alignment with each other. a chuck axially floatingly mounted between said dies in alignment therewith adapted in collapsed position to receive a hoop, means for relatively reciprocating said presser heads, means operated by the initial inward movementof said heads for expanding said chuck to engage said hoop and to hold the same in alignment with said dies, and a yielding support for said chuck permitting axial movement thereof toward one of said dies to engage the hoop therewith simultaneously with the engagement of the other end thereof with the relatively moving die. A

10. A machine for forming wheel rims comprising opposed presser heads, annular dies mounted on said heads in axial alignment with each other. a chuck axlally fioatingly mounted between said dies in alignment therewith adapted in collapsed position to receive a hoop, means for relatively reciprocating said presser heads, means. operated by the initial inward movement of said heads for expanding said chuck to engage said hoop and to hold the same in alignment with said dies, a yielding supportior said chuck permitting axial movement thereof toward one of the hoop therewith simultaneously with the engagement of the other end thereoi with the relatively moving die, and means said chuck to clear said dies in the thereof,

FRANK H. LE JEUNE. JOHN E. COPELAN-l iurther movement 

